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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
342
The Tragedie of
We wish it ours againe. The present pleasure,
By reuolution lowring, does become
The opposite of it selfe: she's good being gon,
The hand could plucke her backe, that shou'd her on.
225I must from this enchanting Queene breake off,
Ten thousand harmes, more then the illes I know
My idlenesse doth hatch.
Enter Enobarbus.
How now Enobarbus.
230Eno. What's your pleasure, Sir?
Anth. I must with haste from hence.
Eno. Why then we kill all our Women. We see how
mortall an vnkindnesse is to them, if they suffer our de-
parture death's the word.
235Ant. I must be gone.
Eno. Vnder a compelling an occasion, let women die.
It were pitty to cast them away for nothing, though be-
tweene them and a great cause, they should be esteemed
nothing. Cleopatra catching but the least noyse of this,
240dies instantly: I haue seene her dye twenty times vppon
farre poorer moment: I do think there is mettle in death,
which commits some louing acte vpon her, she hath such
a celerity in dying.
Ant. She is cunning past mans thought.
245Eno. Alacke Sir no, her passions are made of nothing
but the finest part of pure Loue. We cannot cal her winds
and waters, sighes and teares: They are greater stormes
and Tempests then Almanackes can report. This cannot
be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a showre of Raine
250as well as Ioue.
Ant. Would I had neuer seene her.
Eno. Oh sir, you had then left vnseene a wonderfull
peece of worke, which not to haue beene blest withall,
would haue discredited your Trauaile.
255Ant. Fuluia is dead.
Eno. Sir.
Ant. Fuluia is dead.
Eno. Fuluia?
Ant. Dead.
260Eno. Why sir, giue the Gods a thankefull Sacrifice:
when it pleaseth their Deities to take the wife of a man
from him, it shewes to man the Tailors of the earth: com-
forting therein, that when olde Robes are worne out,
there are members to make new. If there were no more
265Women but Fuluia, then had you indeede a cut, and the
case to be lamented: This greefe is crown'd with Conso-
lation, your old Smocke brings foorth a new Petticoate,
aud indeed the teares liue in an Onion, that should water
this sorrow.
270Ant. The businesse she hath broached in the State,
Cannot endure my absence.
Eno. And the businesse you haue broach'd heere can-
not be without you, especially that of Cleopatra's, which
wholly depends on your abode.
275Ant. No more light Answeres:
Let our Officers
Haue notice what we purpose. I shall breake
The cause of our Expedience to the Queene,
And get her loue to part. For not alone
280The death of Fuluia, with more vrgent touches
Do strongly speake to vs: but the Letters too
Of many our contriuing Friends in Rome,
Petition vs at home. Sextus Pompeius
Haue giuen the dare to Cæsar, and commands
285The Empire of the Sea. Our slippery people,
Whose Loue is neuer link'd to the deseruer,

Till his deserts are past, begin to throw
Pompey the great, and all his Dignities
Vpon his Sonne, who high in Name and Power,
290Higher then both in Blood and Life, stands vp
For the maine Souldier. Whose quality going on,
The sides o'th'world may danger. Much is breeding,
Which like the Coursers heire, hath yet but life,
And not a Serpents poyson. Say our pleasure,
295To such whose places vnder vs, require
Our quicke remoue from hence.
Enob. I shall doo't.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas, and Iras.

Cleo. Where is he?
300Char. I did not see him since.
Cleo. See where he is,
Whose with him, what he does:
I did not send you. If you finde him sad,
Say I am dauncing: if in Myrth, report
305That I am sodaine sicke. Quicke, and returne.
Char. Madam, me thinkes if you did loue him deerly,
You do not hold the method, to enforce
The like from him.
Cleo. What should I do, I do not?
310Ch. In each thing giue him way, crosse him in nothing.
Cleo. Thou teachest like a foole: the way to lose him.
Char. Tempt him not so too farre. I wish forbeare,
In time we hate that which we often feare.
Enter Anthony.
315But heere comes Anthony.
Cleo. I am sicke, and sullen.
An. I am sorry to giue breathing to my purpose.
Cleo. Helpe me away deere Charmian, I shall fall,
It cannot be thus long, the sides of Nature
320Will not sustaine it.
Ant. Now my deerest Queene.
Cleo. Pray you stand farther from mee.
Ant. What's the matter?
Cleo. I know by that same eye ther's some good news.
325What sayes the married woman you may goe?
Would she had neuer giuen you leaue to come.
Let her not say 'tis I that keepe you heere,
I haue no power vpon you: Hers you are.
Ant. The Gods best know.
330Cleo. Oh neuer was there Queene
So mightily betrayed: yet at the fitst
I saw the Treasons planted.
Ant. Cleopatra.
Cleo. Why should I thinke you can be mine, & true,
335(Though you in swearing shake the Throaned Gods)
Who haue beene false to Fuluia?
Riotous madnesse,
To be entangled with those mouth-made vowes,
Which breake themselues in swearing.
340Ant. Most sweet Queene.
Cleo. Nay pray you seeke no colour for your going,
But bid farewell, and goe:
When you sued staying,
Then was the time for words: No going then,
345Eternity was in our Lippes, and Eyes,
Blisse in our browes bent: none our parts so poore,
But was a race of Heauen. They are so still,
Or thou the greatest Souldier of the world,
Art turn'd the greatest Lyar.
350Ant. How now Lady?
Cleo.